Apparatus for firing powder



Jan. 11, 1944. GRQTH APPARATUS 'FOR FIRING POWDER Fild Jan. 11, 1943Patented Jan. 11, 1944 APPARATUS FOR FIRING POWDER Alfred Groth andHenry J. Hanauer, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application January 11, 1943, Serial No. 471,972

Claims.

real artillery positions of the side employing the ruse of igniting shamcharges.

Enemy airplanes, through the aforementioned ruse, are caused to dropbombs in the wrong cations and thus Waste the same. In the case of enemyartillery, the same will be fired in the direction of the exploding shamcharges to expose the enemy artillery positions. Thus, the realartillery of the troops employing this ruse may then efiectively openfire on the enemy. The above mentioned practice is particularlyeffective at night when the flashes from the exploding powder arereadily visible. The improved powder exploding devices may be set up inbrush or other locations where the real character of said devices willbe concealed. If used in an open area, however, the powder explodingdevices may be set up adjacent to camouflage sham field pieces so thatthe usual effect of real artillery is simulated.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a relativelysmall and inexpensive device for firing powder, which is automatic,relatively safe, and complete in itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device capable ofhandling powder charges of various sizes and nature for the simulationof the fire from various types of field pieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the classdescribed in which the firing rate may be varied to simulate the firingrate of a particular type of field piece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a powder firing deviceconstructed to operate with charges of powder contained in sphericalcapsules and constructed to accommodate and feed capsules of varyingsizes.

Other objects of the invention are to provide powder firing apparatusand charges therefor wherein the powder charges are relatively safe tohandle and ship, wherein the apparatus is readily portable and of a sizeto occupy little shipping space, and wherein the value of the apparatus,if destroyed, is relatively small.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of theimproved apparatus for firing powder, and all of the parts andcombinations incident thereto, as set forth in the claims, and allequivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a side view, with parts broken away and in vertical section,of the improved apparatus for firing powder, with the wiring arrangementshown schematically;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, detail View, partly in section, showing thepowder charge magazine and the means for controlling the advancement ofsuccessive powder charges, the latter being in a position different fromthat of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of a modified form of the invention,with portions broken away and in section;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3, and ona larger scale; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a typical powder capsule orcharge.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will appear that thenumeral 10 indicates a box-like casing rigidly mounted on the rear endportion of a flat horizontal base ll. Mounted on the forward end of thebase is an upright bracket I2 rigidly supporting a firing barrel iii ina desired forwardly, upwardly inclined position. The raised forward endof the barrel is open while the lower rear end is screw-threaded, as atM, and is closed by means of a removable cap 15, screwed onto the barrelportion M. inner face of the cap l5 there is an electrical heatingelement 15 held in position by terminal screws IT to which are securedcircuit wires l8 and I9. Insulation 2!] separates the head ends of thescrews from the cap 15.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 an elongated hollowmagazine 2! is supported in the casing Hi, extending substantiallyforwardly thereof and inclined forwardly, downwardly. The outer end ofthe magazine carries a pellet or capsule directing snout 22 which iscurved and downwardly directed and disposed immediately vertically overthe open end of the barrel 5 3, having a directing flange or finger 23.The inner open end of the magazine 2| communicates with the bore of acartridge holding block 24. The latter extends exteriorly of an upperrear portion of the casing l0 and its bore is inclined, as shown. Anopened end portion of a cardboard or the like cartridge 25 is adapted tobe inserted into the bore of the block 24. As the cartridge, which isremovable and replaceable when its contents are exhausted, contains aplurality of spherical powder capsules or pellets 26, the latter arefree to roll or gravitate from the open end of the cartridge 25, throughthe block 2% and into and On the down the inclined magazine 2|. Thepowder capsules or charges 26 will be described more fully hereinafter.

Housed within the casing i a dry-cell battery 21, preferably of ninevolts. From the terminals 28 and 29 respectively of said batter extendthe circuit wire I8 previously mentioned, and another circuit wire 30off of which the wire I9 is tapped. Through this arrangement the heatingelement IS in the base of the barrel I3 is energized and the circuit tothe heating element is controlled by a switch 3| conveniently mounted onan exterior portion of the casing Ill.

A small electric motor 32 is mounted on the base H forwardly of thecasing H). The motors terminal have connected thereto the circuit wire30 as well as a wire 33 tapped oil of the wire it. Included in the motorcircuit is a motor control switch 34 and a rheostat 35, both of whichare conveniently mounted on an exterior portion of the casing l0.

Mounted on a gear reduction box 36 adjacent the motor 32 is a shaft 3'!carrying fast thereon a disc '38. Motion, at a desired speed, istransmitted from the motor shaft 39 to the shaft 3'! by conventionalreduction gearing housed within the box 36. A wrist pin 40 on the disc38 piv-- otally carries one end of a connecting rod 4! which is alsopivotally connected to one end of a gate and. stop member 52. Th mainextent of the member 32 which is a gate-forming plate i3 extendsslidably through a slot in the bottom wall of the magazine 2! andoutwardly through an enlarged slot 44 in the top wall of said magazine,being adapted to be reciprocated relative to the magazine. A portion ofthe plate 43 which registers with the interior opening through themagazine is formed with an aperture t5, somewhat larger than thecapsules 2B. Depended from the top of the member E2 through the slot 4and adjustably spaced forwardly of the plate 43 is a capsule stop flange46.

One typical exemplification of a powder filled capsule or pellet isshown in detail in Fig. 5. There, a charge or batch of suitableignitable powder '41 is packed within a spherical capsule or two-partshell 48 formed of a readily inflammable, Intro-cellulose material suchas Celluloid. The capsules or pellets are preferably spherical so as toroll and gravitate easily and evenly. They may be of any desired sizewithin certain limitations, but should be substantially smaller than theopening through the magazine so as to move freely therein. In practice adesired number of similar pellets may be packed within a cartridge 25.For different uses and purposes the types of powder-charges in capsulesmay be varied to obtain fiashes, smoke or explosions of desired colorsand appearances, for the simulation of the firing effect of specifictypes of guns andartillery pieces.

The improved powder firing apparatus is light, compact and readilyportable. For the latter purpose the top of the casing It is equippedwith a carrying handle 49. The apparatus is intended for warfare use forthe purpose of attracting enemy fire toward erroneous locations and tomislead enemy reconnaissance aircraft. Customarily one or more of theimproved devices may be set up and hidden in desired locations remotefrom the users real positions. The devices are susceptible of automaticoperation for a desired period of time. It is also a practice in modernwarfare for one body toattempt to mislead the enemy as to the strength,number and location of its heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns toinstall sham artillery pieces and guns in certain locations. With thepresent invention the sham may be furthered by strapping the improvedpow- 5 der firing devices under the fake guns. Thus,

when the devices are set into operation and powder charges are fired,the sham guns will have an even greater realistic appearance and effect.

From the description thus far given the operation of the improved powderfiring apparatus is no doubt obvious. After the device is set up in adesired location, a pellet-containing cartridge 25 is registered withthe upper end of the magazine 2|, as in Fig. 1. Both of the switches 3iand 34 should be turned to on positions, whereupon the circuits from thebattery 2? will energize the electric motor 29 and th heating element 16within the base of the barrel l3. The powder filled capsules or pellets26 will, in the principal form of the invention, continuously gravitatedown the inclined magazine 2|.

Through the motor 32 and the connections to the disc shaft 37 the disc33 will be continuously rotated to reciprocate the connecting rod 4!.When the connecting rod is in a raised position, as in Fig. 1, the gateplate 3 of the member 42 will be raised to remove from the path oftravel of the pellets the aperture 55, whereby a solid portion of thegate plate will engage and temporarily restrict movement of theforwardmost pellet. In this position the capsule stop flange 46 islikewise raised and is out of the path of travel of the capsules orpellets. Then, when the disc 38 turns further to downwardly reciprocatethe connecting rod M, the arrangement will be as is shown in Fig. 2,whereupon the forwardm'ost pellet 2&5 may pass through the apertur 15 ofthe gate plate 53 and roll down'the magazine toward the discharge endthereof. The 40 pellet next in line will be engaged and temporarilyblocked from further movement by the lowered stop flange 45. When thereleased pellet reaches the lower open end of the magazine, it passesthrough and out of the snout 22 and is then permitted to drop verticallyinto the open mouth of the barrel E3. The released capsule or pelleteventually rolls to the closed lower end of the barrel and lodgesagainst the heating element It. The heat from this element will ignitethe capsule shell 58 and cause a burning or explosion of the powder 4!within the shell. Such action will produce a flash and smoke emanatingfrom the open mouth of the barrel such as will simulate the firingeifect of a real gun or field piece. As previously mentioned, the typeand color of the powder within a capsule will produce the desired eifectas tofiash and smoke for the simulation of any given gun or field piecewhether it be an anti-aircraft gun, a howitzer, or field or artillerypiece. Diiferent types of guns and field pieces fire at different ratesof speed. For this purpose the rheostat 35 in the circuit to theelectric motor 32 may be employed to either speed up or retard theoperation of the motor. Such action will of course vary the speed ofreciprocation of the member 42 regulating the discharge of theindividual capsules or pellets 26.

A modification of the means for the individual controlled feed ofpowder-containing capsules or pellets to the barrel [3 is shown in Figs.3 and 4. The barrel I3 and its appurtenances is similar to that shown.and described in connection with the principal form of the inventionand it is similarly mounted on a base l2 in association with abattery-containing casing. Associated with the casing is an angularlyshaped magazine 2|, the rear end portion of the magazine being forwardlydownwardly inclined to receive pellets 26 from a cartridge while theoutwardly and forwardly directed portion of the magazine 2| ispreferably slightly upwardly inclined. Successive timed movement ofpellets 26 through the forward portion of the magazine and dischargetherefrom into the firing barrel I3 is accomplished by an endlessconveyor 50 extended about guide rollers 5| mounted fast on spaced aparttransverse shafts 52 underlying the forward extent of the magazine. Theendless conveyor is provided with spaced apart flights 53 which, on theupper extent of the conveyor, project substantially through alongitudinal slot 54 in the bottom wall of the magazine. The forward anddownward gravitation of pellets in the rear and inclined extent of themagazine 2| is terminated by protuberances 55 which engage theforwardmost pellets and ordinarily prevent further movement of the same.However, during operation of the conveyor, a flight will traverse therear roller 5| and come into position so as to engage the forwardmostpellet and will move the same over the protuberances and along theforward extent of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 3. The endless conveyorshaft 52 may be driven by means of suitable connections with an electricmotor 32, as in Fig. 1, or a conventional counterweight drive may beused for operating the conveyor.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improvedapparatus for firing powder is simple, effective, and economical.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the apparatus forfiring powder, without departing from the spirit of the invention, andall such changes are contemplated as come within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination, an inclined barrel having an open upper end and aclosed lower end, a heating unit within the closed end of the barrel, anexplosive powder pellet magazine disposed over the barrel and having anopen discharge end positioned adjacent the open end of the barrel andhaving a cartridge holder at its other end, a powder pellet cartridgeremovably mounted in said holder, powder pellets being adapted togravitate from the cartridge into the magazine in alinement, and meansfor automatically advancing pellets in timed sequence along saidmagazine to the open outer end thereof from whence the same gravitatefrom the open end of the magazine into the barrel for ignition andexplosion by said heating unit.

2. In combination, an inclined barrel having an open upper end and aclosed lower end, a heating unit within the closed end of the barrel, anexplosive powder pellet magazine disposed over the barrel and having anopen discharge end positioned vertically over the open end of the barreland having a cartridge holder at its other end, pellet stop means withinthe magazine, a powder pellet cartridge removably mounted in said holderfrom whence powder pellets gravitate in alinement into said magazineagainst said stop means, and means for advancing the forwardmost pelletbeyond the stop means toward the open outer end of the magazine fromwhence the same gravitates into the barrel for ignition and explosion bythe influence of said heating unit.

3. In combination, an inclined barrel having an open upper end and aclosed lower end. a heating unit within the closed end of the barrel, anexplosive powder pellet magazine disposed over the barrel and having adischarge end positioned adjacent the open end of the barrel, verticallyreciprocable pellet stop means controlling the magazine, powder pelletsbeing adapted to roll in alinement in said magazine against said stopmeans, and automatically operating, regulatable means for reciprocatingthe stop means to permit advancement of the forwardmost pellet from theopen outer end of the magazine from whence the same gravitates into thebarrel for ignition and explosion by the influence of said heating unit.

4. A powder exploding apparatus comprising, a base, an inclined barrelmounted thereon and having an open upper end and a closed lower end, aheating unit within the closed end of the barrel, an explosive powderpellet magazine supported on the base and having an open discharge andadjacent the open end of the barrel, a plurality of inflammable powderpellets being supplied to the magazine, mechanical means automaticallycontrolling the advancement of successive individual pellets through theopen discharge end of the magazine, and a motor for operating saidmechanical means.

5. A unitary portable powder exploding apparatus comprising, a flatbase, an upright casing mounted on a rear portion of said base, aninclined barrel mounted on the base forwardly of the casing, said barrelhaving an open upper end and a closed lower end, an electric heatingunit within the closed end of the barrel, an explosive powder pelletmagazine mounted on an upper portion of the casing and having adischarge opening adjacent the open end of the barrel, the magazinecontaining a plurality of inflammable powder pellets, regulatablemechanical means controlling the advancement of successive individualpellets along the magazine and out of the open discharge end thereof, anelectric motor supported on the base and operatively connected with saidmechanical means, a battery housed within the casing, and electricalconnections between the battery and heating unit and motor.

ALFRED GROTI-I. HENRY J. HANAUER.

